The birthday celebrations of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden have gotten back to normal after two years of restrictions due to the global health crisis.
Hundreds gathered in the Outer Courtyard of Stockholm Palace for the traditional birthday celebrations that kicked off with a performance by the Navy Corps Band. The King and his son, Prince Carl Philip, then entered the Outer Courtyard to take the official salute and hear the 21-gun salute. The Army Music Corps performed several tunes during the ceremony, as did the Life Guards.
Children then had the opportunity to bring His Majesty flowers to congratulate him on his birthday – something that hadn’t been allowed the previous two years because of health restrictions.
All three music corps concluded the ceremony by playing “Marcia Carolus Rex” together before the King and Prince went back into the Royal Palace.
Inside the Royal Palace, the Royal Family was waiting to appear at the windows alongside the King to hear the public congratulations.
The King and Prince Carl Philip were joined by Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Princess Sofia and Prince Gabriel at the palace windows. Six-year-old Prince Oscar was even seen giving his own salute to the soldiers down below.
A few members of the family were missing; the King and Queen’s youngest child, Princess Madeleine and her family, who reside in Florida, were not in attendance. Prince Alexander and Prince Julian, the eldest and youngest children of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, were also not photographed on Saturday.
After the public celebrations, the Royal Family had a private lunch.
On Instagram, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia shared a photo from inside the palace during the celebrations, saying: “Today we celebrate the King – father and grandfather.”
